EFFECTS OF 1-METHYLCYCLOPROPENE ON RIPENING OF ‘LARRY ANN’, ‘SONGOLD’ AND ‘SUPLUMSIX’ PLUMS (PRUNUS SALICINA LINDELL) DURING POSTHARVEST STORAGE AND SHELF-LIFE

The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on different products have been previously reported, taking into account parameters such as its concentration, assay temperature, cultivar, fruit ripening stage and packaging.
However, these investigations have been carried out under laboratory conditions, whereas studies conducted on real situation have been rarely reported.
The aim of this work was to study the effect of 1-MCP on three plum cultivars applied in a fruit company facility.
To achieve this goal, three plum cultivars ‘Larry Ann’, ‘Songold’ and ‘Suplumsix’ were treated with SmartFreshTM (3.33% of 1-MCP) according to the commercial instructions at 1°C for 24 hours.
The untreated (control) and treated fruit were stored at 0°C for 34 days, followed by 3, 7 and 11 days at 20°C (shelf-life). At each sampling date, quality parameters were measured, namely, total soluble solids content (SSC), total acidity (TA), acceptability index (AI), firmness and skin and flesh colour, in order to evaluate the effect of 1-MCP on fruit quality. 1-MCP reduced firmness losses on ‘Larry Ann’ and ‘Songold’ plum cultivars both during refrigerated storage and shelf-life, while it had no effect on ‘Suplumsix’ texture, probably due to the low ethylene production of this cultivar. 1-MCP affected SSC and TA for the three cultivars, and in addition, 1-MCP helped to maintain skin colour on ‘Larry Ann’ and ‘Songold’ in shelf-life storage, and had no effect on ‘Suplumsix’.

VI International Postharvest Symposium

B. Velardo, M. Lozano, C.J.M. Pintado, T. Hernández, M.J. Bernalte, M.C. Ayuso

commercial trials, refrigeration, fruit quality, ripening

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.877.40